Triostat

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Last updated on RxList:2/9/2022

Drug Summary

What Is Triostat?

Triostat(liothyronine sodium injection) (T3) is athyroid hormonepreparation indicated in the treatment ofmyxedema coma/precoma. Triostat can be used in patients allergic to desiccatedthyroidor thyroid extract derived from pork or beef. Triostat is available ingenericform.

What Are Side Effects of Triostat?

Common side effects of Triostat include:

Dosage for Triostat

An initial intravenous Triostat dose ranging from 25 mcg to 50 mcg is recommended in the emergency treatment of myxedema coma/precoma in adults.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Triostat?

Triostat may interact with oral anticoagulants,insulinor oral hypoglycemics,estrogen, oral contraceptives,tricyclic antidepressants,digitalis, ketamine, and vasopressors. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Triostat During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before receiving Triostat.Thyroid hormonesdo not readily cross the placental barrier and in general, thyroid replacement therapy to hypothyroid women should not be discontinued during pregnancy. Minimal amounts of Triostat pass into breast milk. Thyroid hormones such as Triostat are not generally associated with serious side effects. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Triostat (liothyronine sodium injection) (T3) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

Drug Description

DESCRIPTION

Thyroid hormonedrugs are natural or synthetic preparations containing tetraiodothyronine (T4,levothyroxine) sodium ortriiodothyronine(T3, liothyronine) sodium or both. T4and T3are produced in the humanthyroid glandby the iodination and coupling of theamino acidtyrosine.T4contains fouriodineatoms and is formed by the coupling of two molecules of diiodotyrosine (DIT). T3contains three atoms of iodine and is formed by the coupling of one molecule of DIT with one molecule of monoiodotyrosine (MIT). Both hormones are stored in thethyroidcolloid asthyroglobulinand released into thecirculation.The major credit of T3has been shown to be peripheral deiodination of T4.T3is bound less firmly than T4in the serum, enters peripheral tissues more readily, and binds to specific nuclear receptor(s) to initiate hormonal, metabolic effects. T4is the prohormone which is deiodinated to T3for hormone activity.

Thyroid hormone preparations belong to two categories: (1) natural hormonal preparations derived from animal thyroid, and (2) synthetic preparations. Natural preparations include desiccated thyroid and thyroglobulin. Desiccated thyroid is derived from domesticated animals that are used for food by man (either beef or hog thyroid), and thyroglobulin is derived from thyroid glands of the hog.Triostat(liothyronine sodium injection) (T3) contains liothyronine (L-triiodothyronine or L-T3), a synthetic form of a natural thyroid hormone, as the sodium salt.

The structural and empirical formulas and molecular weight of liothyronine sodium are given below.

TRIOSTAT® (liothyronine sodium) Structural Formula Illustration

L-Tyrosine, 0-(4-hydroxy-3-iodophenyl)-3,5-diiodo-, monosodium salt

Ineuthyroidpatients, 25 mcg of liothyronine is equivalent to approximately 1 grain of desiccated thyroid or thyroglobulin and 0.1 mg of L-thyroxine

Each mL ofTriostatin amber-glass vials contains, in sterile non-pyrogenic aqueous solution, liothyronine sodium equivalent to 10 mcg of liothyronine; alcohol, 6.8% by volume; anhydrous citric acid, 0.175 mg;ammonia, 2.19 mg, as ammonium hydroxide.

Indications & Dosage

INDICATIONS

Triostat(liothyronine sodium injection) (T3) is indicated in the treatment ofmyxedema coma/precoma.

Triostatcan be used in patients allergic to desiccated thyroid orthyroid extractderived from pork or beef.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Adults

Myxedema coma is usually precipitated in the hypothyroid patient of long standing by intercurrent illness or drugs such as sedatives and anesthetics and should be considered a medical emergency. Therapy should be directed at the correction ofelectrolytedisturbances, possible infection, or other intercurrent illness in addition to the administration of intravenous liothyronine (T3). Simultaneous glucocorticosteroids are required.

Triostat (liothyronine s odium injection) (T3) is for intravenous administration only.It should not be given intramuscularly or subcutaneously.

  • Prompt administration of an adequate dose of intravenous liothyronine (T3) is important in determining clinical outcome.
  • Initial and subsequent doses ofTriostatshould be based on continuous monitoring of the patient's clinical status and response to therapy.
  • Triostatdoses should normally be administered at least four hours–and not more than 12 hours–apart.
  • Administration of at least 65 mcg/day of intravenous liothyronine (T3) in the initial days of therapy was associated with lower mortality.
  • There is limited clinical experience with intravenous liothyronine (T3) at total daily doses exceeding 100 mcg/day.

No controlled clinical studies have been done withTriostat.已获得以下剂量指导方针d from data analysis of myxedema coma/precoma case reports collected by SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals since 1963 and from scientific literature since 1956.

An initial intravenousTriostatdose ranging from 25 mcg to 50 mcg is recommended in the emergency treatment of myxedema coma/precoma in adults. In patients with known or suspectedcardiovascular disease, an initial dose of 10 mcg to 20 mcg is suggested (seeWARNINGS). However, both the initial dose and subsequent doses should be determined on the basis of continuous monitoring of the patient's clinical condition and response toTriostattherapy. Normally at least four hours should be allowed between doses to adequately assess therapeutic response and no more than 12 hours should elapse between doses to avoid fluctuations in hormone levels. Caution should be exercised in adjusting the dose due to the potential of large changes to precipitate adversecardiovascularevents. Review of the myxedema case reports indicates decreased mortality in patients receiving at least 65 mcg/day in the initial days of treatment. However, there is limited clinical experience at total daily doses above 100 mcg. SeePRECAUTIONS:DRUG INTERACTIONS潜在的相互作用thyroid hormonesand digitalis and vasopressors.

Pediatric Use

There is limited experience withTriostatin the pediatric population. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

Switching To Oral Therapy

Oral therapy should be resumed as soon as the clinical situation has been stabilized and the patient is able to take oral medication. When switching a patient to liothyronine sodium tablets fromTriostat, discontinueTriostat, initiate oral therapy at a low dosage, and increase gradually according to the patient's response.

If L-thyroxine rather than liothyronine sodium is used in initiating oral therapy, the physician should bear in mind that there is a delay of several days in the onset of L-thyroxine activity and that intravenous therapy should be discontinued gradually.

HOW SUPPLIED

The 1 mL vial at a concentration of 10 mcg/mL is available as follow:

NDC42023-120-01-Single-Use Vial- Pack of 1
NDC42023-120-06-Single-Use Vials- Pack of 6

Store between 2° and 8°C (36° and 46°F).

Manufactured and Distributed by: JHP Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Rochester, MI 48307. Revised: Aug 2012

Side Effects

SIDE EFFECTS

The most frequently reported adverse events werearrhythmia(6% of patients) andtachycardia(3%).Cardiopulmonaryarrest,hypotensionandmyocardial infarctionoccurred in approximately 2% of patients. The following events occurred in approximately 1% or fewer of patients:angina,congestive heart failure, fever,hypertension,phlebitisandtwitching

In rare instances, allergic skin reactions have been reported with liothyronine sodium tablets.

For medical advice about your adverse reactions contact your medical professional. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact JHP at 1-866-923-2547 or MEDWATCH at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/.

Drug Interactions

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Oral Anticoagulants

Thyroid hormones appear to increasecatabolismof vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. If oral anticoagulants are also being given, compensatory increases in clotting factor synthesis are impaired. Patients stabilized on oral anticoagulants who are found to require thyroid replacement therapy should be watched very closely when thyroid is started. If a patient is truly hypothyroid, it is likely that a reduction inanticoagulantdosage will be required. No special precautions appear to be necessary when oral anticoagulant therapy is begun in a patient already stabilized on maintenance thyroid replacement therapy.

Insulin Or Oral Hypoglycemics

Initiating thyroid replacement therapy may cause increases ininsulinor oralhypoglycemicrequirements. The effects seen are poorly understood and depend upon a variety of factors such as dose and type of thyroid preparations and endocrine status of the patient. Patients receiving insulin or oral hypoglycemics should be closely watched during initiation of thyroid replacement therapy.

Estrogen, Oral Contraceptives

Estrogenstend to increase serum thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG). In a patient with a nonfunctioning thyroidglandwho is receiving thyroid replacement therapy, free levothyroxine may be decreased when estrogens are started thus increasing thyroid requirements. However, if the patient's thyroid gland has sufficient function, the decreased free thyroxine will result in a compensatory increase in thyroxine output by the thyroid. Therefore, patients without a functioning thyroid gland who are on thyroid replacement therapy may need to increase their thyroid dose if estrogens orestrogen-containing oral contraceptives are given.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Use of thyroid products with imipramine and othertricyclic antidepressantsmay increase receptor sensitivity and enhanceantidepressantactivity; transient cardiac arrhythmias have been observed. Thyroid hormone activity may also be enhanced.

Digitalis

Thyroid preparations may potentiate the toxic effects of digitalis. Thyroid hormonal replacement increases metabolic rate, which requires an increase in digitalis dosage.

Ketamine

When administered to patients on a thyroid preparation, thisparenteralanestheticmay cause hypertension and tachycardia. Use with caution and be prepared to treat hypertension, if necessary.

Vasopressors

Thyroid hormones increase the adrenergic effect of catecholamines such asepinephrineand norepinephrine. Therefore, use of vasopressors in patients receiving thyroid hormone preparations may increase the risk of precipitatingcoronary insufficiency,尤其是在patients withcoronary artery disease.Therefore, use caution when administering vasopressors with liothyronine (T3).

Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions

The following drugs or moieties are known to interfere with laboratory tests performed in patients on thyroidhormone therapy: androgens, corticosteroids, estrogens, oral contraceptives containing estrogens, iodine-containing preparations and the numerous preparations containing salicylates.

  1. Changes in TBG concentration should be taken into consideration in the interpretation of T4and T3values. In such cases, the unbound (free) hormone should be measured. Pregnancy, estrogens and estrogen-containing oral contraceptives increase TBG concentrations. TBG may also be increased duringinfectious hepatitis.Decreases in TBG concentrations are observed innephrosis,acromegalyand afterandrogenorcorticosteroidtherapy.Familialhyper- or hypothyroxine-binding globulinemias have been described. The incidence of TBG deficiency approximates 1 in 9000. The binding of thyroxine by thyroxine-bindingprealbumin(TBPA) is inhibited by salicylates.
  2. Medicinal or dietary iodine interferes with all in vivo tests ofradioiodineuptake, producing low uptakes which may not be reflective of a true decrease in hormone synthesis.
Warnings

WARNINGS

Drugs with thyroid hormone activity, alone or together with other therapeutic agents, have been used for the treatment ofobesity.In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction. Larger doses may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for theiranorecticeffects.

The use of thyroid hormones in the therapy of obesity, alone or combined with other drugs, is unjustified and has been shown to be ineffective. Neither is their use justified for the treatment of male or femaleinfertilityunless this condition is accompanied byhypothyroidism

Thyroid hormones should be used with great caution in a number of circumstances where the integrity of thecardiovascular system, particularly thecoronary arteries, is suspect. These include patients with angina pectoris or the elderly, in whom there is a greater likelihood ofoccultcardiac disease. Therefore, in patients with compromised cardiac function, use thyroid hormones in conjunction with careful cardiac monitoring. Although the specific dosage ofTriostatdepends upon individual circumstances, in patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease the extremely rapid onset of action ofTriostatmay warrant initiating therapy at a dose of 10 mcg to 20 mcg. (SeeDOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION.)

Myxedematous patients are very sensitive to thyroid hormones; dosage should be started at a low level and increased gradually as acute changes may precipitate adverse cardiovascular events.

Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism can lead to a decreased level of adrenocortical activity commensurate with the lowered metabolic state. When thyroid-replacement therapy is administered, themetabolismincreases at a greater rate than adrenocortical activity. This can precipitate adrenocortical insufficiency. Therefore, in severe and prolonged hypothyroidism, supplemental adrenocortical steroids may be necessary.

在罕见的情况下,管理的甲状腺hormone may precipitate ahyperthyroidstate or may aggravate existing hyperthyroidism.

Extreme caution is advised when administering thyroid hormones with digitalis or vasopressors. (SeePRECAUTIONS:DRUG INTERACTIONS.)

Fluid therapy should be administered with great care to prevent cardiac decompensation. (SeePRECAUTIONSAdjunctive Therapy.)

Precautions

PRECAUTIONS

General

Thyroid hormone therapy in patients with concomitantdiabetes mellitus(seePRECAUTIONS:DRUG INTERACTIONS,Ins ulin or Oral Hypoglycemics regarding interaction and dose adjustment with insulin) or insipidus or adrenalcorticalinsufficiency may aggravate the intensity of their symptoms. Appropriate adjustments of the various therapeutic measures directed at these concomitant endocrine diseases are required.

The therapy of myxedema coma requires simultaneous administration of glucocorticoids. (SeePRECAUTIONSAdjunctive Therapy).

Hypothyroidism decreases and hyperthyroidism increases the sensitivity to anticoagulants.Prothrombin timeshould be closely monitored in thyroid-treated patients on anticoagulants and dosage of the latter agents adjusted on the basis of frequentprothrombintime determinations.

Oral therapy should be resumed as soon as the clinical situation has been stabilized and the patient is able to take oral medication. If L-thyroxine rather than liothyronine sodium is used in initiating oral therapy, the physician should bear in mind that there is a delay of several days in the onset of Lthyroxine activity and that intravenous therapy should be discontinued gradually.

Adjunctive Therapy

Many investigators recommend that corticosteroids be administered routinely in the initial emergency treatment of all patients with myxedema coma. Patients withpituitarymyxedema should receive adrenocortical hormone replacement therapy at or before the start ofTriostattherapy. Similarly, patients with primary myxedema may also require adrenocortical hormone replacement therapy since a rapid return to normal body metabolism from a severely hypothyroid state may result in acute adrenocortical insufficiency andshock

In considering the need to elevate blood pressure, it should be kept in mind that tissue metabolic requirements are markedly reduced in the hypothyroid patient. Because arrhythmias andcirculatorycollapse have infrequently occurred following the concomitant administration of thyroid hormones and vasopressor therapies, use caution when administering these therapies concomitantly. (SeePRECAUTIONS:DRUG INTERACTIONS,Vasopressors.)

Hyponatremiais frequently present in myxedema coma, but usually resolves without specific therapy as the metabolic status of the patient is improved with thyroid hormone treatment. Fluid therapy should be administered with great care to prevent cardiac decompensation. In addition, some patients with myxedema have inappropriate secretion ofADHand are susceptible to water intoxication.

In some patients,respiratory depression一直是一个重要的因素在发展啊r persistence of the comatose state. Decreased oxygen saturation and elevated CO2levels respond quickly to artificialrespiration

Infection is often present in myxedema coma and should be looked for and treated appropriately.

Concomitant use ofTriostatand artificial rewarming of patients is contraindicated. Although patients in myxedema coma are often hypothermic, most investigators believe that artificial rewarming is of little value or may be harmful. The peripheralvasodilationproduced by external heat serves to further decrease circulation to vital internal organs and to increase shock if present. It has been reported that the administration of liothyronine sodium will restore a normal body temperature in 24 to 48 hours if heat loss is prevented by keeping the patient covered with blankets in a warm room.

Laboratory Tests

Treatment of patients with thyroid hormones requires the periodic assessment of thyroid status by means of appropriate laboratory tests besides the full clinical evaluation. Serum T3and TSH levels should be monitored to assess dosage adequacy and biologic effectiveness.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis and Impairment Of Fertility

A reportedly apparent association between prolonged thyroid therapy andbreast cancerhas not been confirmed and patients on thyroid for established indications should not discontinue therapy. No confirmatory long-term studies in animals have been performed to evaluatecarcinogenicpotential, mutagenicity, or impairment of fertility in either males or females.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category A:Thyroid hormones do not readily cross the placental barrier. The clinical experience to date does not indicate anyadverse effecton fetuses when thyroid hormones are administered to pregnant women. On the basis of current knowledge, thyroid replacement therapy to hypothyroid women should not be discontinued during pregnancy.

Nursing Mothers

Minimal amounts of thyroid hormones are excreted in human milk. Thyroid hormones are not associated with serious adverse reactions and do not have a known tumorigenic potential. However, caution should be exercised when thyroid hormones are administered to a nursing woman.

Geriatric Use

Clinical studies of liothyronine sodium did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy. This drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.

Pediatric Use

There is limited experience withTriostatin the pediatric population. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

Overdose & Contraindications

OVERDOSE

Signs And Symptoms

Headache, irritability, nervousness,tremor、出汗、增加肠蠕动和月经irregularities.Angina pectoris, arrhythmia, tachycardia,acute myocardial infarctionor congestiveheart failuremay be induced or aggravated. Shock may also develop if there is untreated pituitary or adrenocortical failure. Massive overdosage may result in symptoms resemblingthyroid storm

Treatment Of Overdosage

Dosage should be reduced or therapy temporarily discontinued if signs and symptoms of overdosage appear. Treatment may be reinstituted at a lower dosage. In normal individuals, normal hypothalamicpituitary- thyroidaxisfunction is restored in six to eight weeks after cessation of therapy following thyroid suppression.

Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Oxygen may be administered andventilationmaintained. Cardiac glycosides may be indicated if congestive heart failure develops. Beta-adrenergic antagonists have been used advantageously in the treatment of increased sympathetic activity. Measures to control fever,hypoglycemiaor fluid loss should be instituted if needed.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Thyroid hormone preparations are generally contraindicated in patients with diagnosed but as yet uncorrected adrenal cortical insufficiency or untreated thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid hormone preparations are also generally contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to any of the active or extraneous constituents of these preparations; however, there is no well-documented evidence in the literature of true allergic or idiosyncratic reactions to thyroid hormone.

Concomitant use ofTriostatand artificial rewarming of patients is contraindicated. (SeePRECAUTIONS.)

Clinical Pharmacology

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Thyroid hormones enhance oxygen consumption by most tissues of the body and increase thebasal metabolic rateand the metabolism ofcarbohydrates,lipidsand proteins.In vitrostudies indicate that T3increasesaerobicmitochondrialfunction, thereby increasing the rates of synthesis and utilization of myocardial high-energy phosphates. This, in turn, stimulates myosin ATPase and reduces tissuelactic acidosis.Thus, thyroid hormones exert a profound influence on virtually every organ system in the body and are of particular importance in the development of thecentral nervous system

While the credit of levothyroxine (T4) and some triiodothyronine (T3) is via secretion from the thyroid gland, it is now well-established that approximately 80% of circulating T3arises predominantly by way of the extrathyroidal conversion of T4.膜结合酶负责这个reaction is iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase. Activity of the enzyme is greatest in the liver and kidney. A second pathway of T4to T3conversion occurs via aPTU-insensitive 5'-deiodinase located primarily in the pituitary and central nervous system.

The prohormone T4must be converted to T3in the body before it can exert biological effects. During periods of illness orstress, this conversion is often inhibited and can be diverted to the inactive reverse T3(rT3) moiety. Therefore, correction of the hypothyroid condition in patients with myxedema coma is facilitated by the parenteral administration of triiodothyronine (T3). T3is bound much less firmly to serum binding proteins and therefore penetrates into the cells much more rapidly than T4.Also, the binding of T3to a nuclearthyroid hormone receptorseems to initiate most of the effects of thyroid hormone in tissues. Although most thyroid hormone analogs, both natural and synthetic, will bind to this protein, theaffinityof T3for this receptor is roughly 10-fold higher than that of T4.Thus, T3is the biologically active thyroid hormone.

Pharmacodynamics

The clinical features of myxedema coma include depression of the cardiovascular, respiratory,gastrointestinaland central nervous systems, impaireddiuresis, andhypothermia.Administration of thyroid hormones reverses or attenuates these conditions. Thyroid hormones increase heart rate,ventricularcontractility andcardiac output, as well as decrease total systemicvascularresistance. They also increase the rate and depth of respiration, motilityof thegastrointestinal tract, rapidity of cerebration, and vasodilatation. Thyroid hormones correct hypothermia by markedly increasing the basal metabolic rate, as well as the number and activity ofmitochondriain almost all cells of the body.

Pharmacokinetics

Since liothyronine sodium (T3) is not firmly bound to serum protein, it is readily available to body tissues.

Liothyronine sodium has a rapid cutoff of activity which permits quick dosage adjustment and facilitates control of the effects of overdosage, should they occur.

The higher affinity of levothyroxine (T4) as compared to triiodothyronine (T3) for both thyroid-binding globulin and thyroid-binding prealbumin partially explains the higher serum levels and longer half-life of the former hormone. Both protein-bound hormones exist in reverse equilibrium with minute amounts of free hormone, the latter accounting for the metabolic activity. T4is deiodinated to T3

A single dose of liothyronine sodium administered intravenously produces a detectable metabolic response in as little as two to four hours and a maximum therapeutic response within two days. However, no pharmacokinetic studies have been performed with intravenous liothyronine (T3) in myxedema coma or precoma patients.

Medication Guide

PATIENT INFORMATION

No information provided. Please refer to theWARNINGSandPRECAUTIONSsections.

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